The Triumph of Nkomenshya

"I want to say to you Your Excellency [President Sata] that I think without this change maybe I would not be standing here.... As you are aware I was to be retired, but instead of me being retired, the person [Rupiah Banda] who wished me to be retired, I retired him Your Excellency and the people of Zambia  and I thank you..."

Senior chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II mocking the 4th President Rupiah Banda following his defeat. Mr Banda has promised to deal with Her Royal Highness because she had refused to share his political posture.

The Politics of Chief Mwanachingwala, 7th Edition

"A chief is always part and parcel of the government of the day, even if I supported Mr Banda, now I have to work with the government of the day to foster development"

Chief Mwanachingwala has finally reacted to the defeat of his candidate. This now appears to be the end of politicking for the most political of chiefs.

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Chiefdom led capitalism, 2nd Edition

Chiefs in Luapula province have formed a company called Bangweulu Investments Limited with the aim of opening up fish farms and restocking the water bodies whose resources are fast depleting  :

Chief Mwansakombe said the company was formed by traditional rulers in Samfya and surrounding areas after carrying out a series of consultations with officials from the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), the department of fisheries. This was done through the Programme for Luapula Rural and Agriculture Development (PLRAD). Chiefteness Mulongwe of Mbabala Island, senior chief Mwewa, Chiefs Kalima Nkonde and Bwalya Mponda, are the board members of the company whose offices would be opened in Samfya district soon.

Pushing for media ownership?

Chief Simamba (Tonga , Siavonga) recently called on Government to consider granting a full radio operation licence to Kariba FM Radio Trust. The chief argues that allowing the radio station to commence operations would help create employment for the youth in the district. It would create jobs for the youth and also allow business enterprises in the district to advertise their products and services. Kariba FM Radio is currently on test transmission. More detail via Times of Zambia.

A new role for chiefs?

The government plans to introduce traditional councils to "ensure a link in the public service governance system", according to the new Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Inonge Wina. Mrs Wina believes the introduction of village, district and provincial chiefs' councils would ensure the active involvement of traditional authorities in the public governance system. In her words, "the PF government is, therefore, committed to establishing a system of local government which will promote local economic development, improved delivery of essential infrastructure and services through local self government".

Against Kagem

Lost in the post election milieu was the interesting revelation that Chief Nkana of the Lamba people (Lufwanyama) recently filed for an injunction restraining Kagem mining from conducting mining activities in his chiefdom. The chief has sued Kagem mining for allegedly entering Chapula area which was under his chiefdom and conducting mining activities which was against his duties as senior chief. He claims that Kagem mining had started exercising mining rights in an area that encompassed villagers and the palace without his written consent. The traditional leader claimed that the action by the mining company in entering his customary land or village without his consent was illegal. He claimed that he was mandated to have authority over the people of the land through statutory instrument number 59 of 2002. More detail via The Times.

Unleashing indigenous knowledge...

Botswana is developing a policy to protect, preserve and promote its indigenous knowledge and mainstream it into the country's macro-economic framework. These efforts will involve identifying, documenting and gathering local traditional knowledge practices from areas including agriculture, health, culture and religious beliefs, and then feeding them into a legislative framework. According to the Gaborone government, "the initiative is intended to bring economic empowerment through benefit-sharing and [providing] royalties to communities rich in indigenous knowledge". In other words, Botswana has linked this policy not only to preservation of national heritage, but also to delivering positive economic outcomes (e.g. health, income generation).